Hope springs eternal at Cardiff City. A convincing win over the Championship favourites in front of the first sell-out crowd in a league fixture here since 1961 sent optimism coursing through home supporters as Dave Jones's side took their place at the top of the table. Victory was no more than Cardiff deserved after an explosive opening 45 minutes left Birmingham gasping for breath. By the time the visitors recovered the damage had been done, Joe Ledley's early goal providing the platform for three precious points.

It was too much for some Birmingham fans as trouble broke out in the away end, with seats hurled towards stewards and police, although those ugly scenes late in the game should not be allowed to overshadow an impressive home performance. Paul Parry was a threat throughout and the winger embellished his lively display on the right flank with a goal 15 minutes from time, ending Birmingham's hopes of protecting their unbeaten record in the Championship and fuelling Steve Bruce's sense of frustration.

The Birmingham manager had no complaints with the result, and admitted: 'We got what we deserved, which was nothing,' although his disappointment at the failure to convert one of several excellent second-half opportunities was obvious.

DJ Campbell squandered the first, allowing Roger Johnson to sweep the ball from under him as he bore down on goal before Cameron Jerome, returning to the club for whom he scored 20 times last season, clipped a similarly gilt-edged opportunity wide of the far post much to the home fans' delight

'We have invested heavily in the squad to improve the goal ratio and we can't come away from home and miss two clear chances in front of goal like that,' lamented Bruce.

His side had started too slowly as Cardiff, spurred on by vociferous support that created an atmosphere Jones described as a 'cauldron', tore into the visitors. Birmingham could not settle and the pattern was set for a first half that belonged almost exclusively to the home side. 'I thought we came out of the traps at 100 miles per hour and that gave us belief,' said Jones.

Ledley's goal strengthened their resolve and the only surprise was that a breakthrough had not arrived earlier. Michael Chopra had already stung the hands of Colin Doyle with a snap-shot from the edge of the area before Kevin McNaughton forced the Birmingham goalkeeper to save again when his powerful low drive was tipped around the post. From the corner that followed Birmingham switched off, allowing Chopra to maraud into the area unchallenged before feeding Ledley. His sweeping shot gave Doyle no chance.

Ricardo Scimeca, who worked tirelessly in midfield, might have added a second goal moments later when he latched on to a quick throw-in but Doyle raced from his line to save. The home onslaught continued with Steve Thompson's glancing header drifting inches over the crossbar before Birmingham conjured their only real chance of the first half. David Dunn, a peripheral figure, was the architect, picking out Gary McSheffrey at the far post only for Neil Alexander to produce a superb one-handed save.

McSheffrey came close to an equaliser again in the second half with two free-kicks - one from inside the centre circle - both of which Alexander repelled with five saves. At the opposite end Chopra rattled the crossbar before Jerome, heckled for his decision to join Birmingham for £3m in the summer, missed a wonderful chance to silence the jeers. Parry proved more reliable and Cardiff's place at the summit was sealed. 'The only time I will blow my trumpet is when we get out of this division,' said Jones.